Closed-circuit wiring for automatic train-stopping systems.



J. F. WEBB, JR. CLOSED CIRCUIT WIRING FOR AUTOMATIC TRAIN STOPPING SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.1, 1908.

Patented Aug. 31, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. P, WEBB, JR. CLOSED GIRGUIT WIRING FOR AUTOMATIC TRAIN STOPPING SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. l, 1908.

- Patented Aug. 31, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

BLOC/f /V0. 7. 8w

M ATTORNEY-Y BLOC/f N04 J. P. WEBB, JR. CLOSED CIRCUIT WIRING FOR AUTOMATIQ TRAIN STOPPING SYSTEMS.

' APPLICATION FILED SEPT.l,1908.

932,925. Patented Aug. 31, 1909.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

To all whom it may concern:

Of my co-pending application filed UNITED 'STATEb rignnr or nron.

J'EAN F. W'EBB, J'R., 915 NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE ELECTRIC SIGNAGRAPH AND SEMAPHORE C0., INCORPORATED, OF YORK, N. Y.

CLOSED-CIRCUIT WIRING FOR AUTOMATIC TRAIN-STOPPING Application filed September.

tie it known that l, JEAN F. Venn, J12, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in (llosedilircuit Wiring for Automatic Train- Stopping Systems, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in track circuits for train signaling and stopping systems, and it is particularly adapted for use withthose systems of the closed circuit type whereby the opening of the circuit hetween track contacts serves to open or otherwise actua-tea train carried circnit to eli'ect certain signals on board the train, or to operate any suitable train carried mechanism whereby a train may be automatically stopped.

My present track wiring system embodies asystem of block wiring for straight-line tracks, cross-overs, switches and the like, whereby a train in one block will ettecta breaking of the'circuit between track contacts in one or more of the other blocks so that should a train enter or be in such other blocks, its train carried mechanism (eithera signal or automatic train stopping device, or other kindred appliance for the protection of trains) will be actuated. In this application I make no claim to the train carried mechanism, peace, as that forms the subject-matter August 15,1905, $81. No. erase).

In this application 1 have disclosed an improved torm of contact maker which is particularly designed for use in connection with my train stopping system, but I make no claim per so in this application to such contact maker as that-forms the subject-anatter of my co-pending application filed Aug. 26, 1308, Serial No. 450,367.

The invention also embodies those novel features of construction and cooperative relation of circuits which will e first fully described, and then be specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1, is a diagrammatic View of a straight. line portion of the track. Fig. 2, is a diagrammatic view of a crossing. Fig. 3, is a diagrzmimatic view of a switch wiring. Fig. l, is diagrammaticview 'ot a train car Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 31, 1909. 1, 1908. Serial No. 451,227.

l ried stopping mechanism that may be used 111 connectlon with my present invent-ion,

ject-matter of my co-pending hereinbefore referred to. Fig. 5', 1s a side elevation of one of the train carried contact makers and'one of the track contacts that cooperates therewith.

In the drawings, in which like letters. and numerals of reference indicate like parts in all of the figures, I have shown Figs. 1, 2, 3

together as one by assembling the figures so that the lines MN, KL, U of Fig. 2, will coincide respectively with the line M--N of Fig. l, KL of Fig. 3, and TU of Fi 4:;

I n carrying out my invention, the rails l of the track are divided into sections which are insulated from one another and the rail sections are arranged in pairs to form blocks of any desired length. The blocks are indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, as block No. l, block No. 2, block N0. 3 and so on. The rails 1 of each block are electrically joined together near or at one end of the block through the magnet 3 of a relay It, and at or near the other end of the'block the rails are again electrically connected through a source-of electric energy 7 thus each block forms ,a closed electrical circuit including the battery 7, rails 1.--1 and relay magnet 3 of said block.

is provided with contacts 4 4; to engage fixed contacts .5-6 respectively when the magnet 3 is energized. (It should be understood that the magnet 3 is a high-resistance one). A number of track contacts El -9 are arranged at intervals along one side of the track, While anotherset 8"--) are located along the'other side of the track. These contacts are arranged in pairs 8* 8'", 9 -9 respectively, each pair being located at any desired place in .the block (there being one pair of each to each block) preferably slightly beginning and from the end of the block. All of the track contacts 8 9 of all the straight-lino blocks are joined together and through wires 10 and a line wire 10.

The fixed contact 5 ol the relay R that is located in block 1, is joined through a Wire Each relay R has an armature 4, which such stopping mechanism forming the sub-.

application and 4 in such manner that they may be read more than a train length from the brake system containing the air line 31 in of which I place an air valve 32 whose shaili't carries a gear 33 that meshes with the 1 pinion all of the electric motor 34, by means A handle of which the valve 32 is opened. 3 3" permits the gear 33 to be rotated in a to close the valve 32 by hand.

35 designates a relay magnet that has one terminal connected to a contact brush 42 that engages an armature 36 that is held by the magnet normally in a circuit opening position. The magnet 35 is a closed circuit magnet whose other terminal is connected through a source of electric energy 41 and a wire to the plate 50 and to the pivot etl of one contact shoe S at one side of the train. through a wire 43 to the plate 50 and pivot 44 of the other contact shoe S at the other side of the train. Fixed contacts a of each shoe are connected together by a wire 48, as shown on Fig. 5, of the drawings.

T he normally closed cab or train carried circuit commences at the. battery il, flows from thence through magnet 35, from magnet to contact 4.2 and through armature 36 and wire 43 to contacts ist of the knife switch or contact makers from thence across the knife to fixed con-tact t? of contact maker 5 and from fixed contact 4:? of con tact maker S through wire -18 to fixed contact at? of switch of contact maker S across cl rew' on opposite to its-opening movement i The armature 36 is connected net 30 which will allow the knife of said switch to back to battery a l. This constitutes the closed circuit when the knife switches are close-d. When, however, they are opened by the contact makers SS engaging track contacts H"--S or -'-9", as the case may be, then the function of the wire A8 is temporarily dispensed with and the circuit from contact al of contact maker to contact 44 of contact maker S is from one track contact S to the other 8 or 9 to the other 9", as the case nn be, through the track circuits where the track circuits are in their normal or safety positions to electrically connect the respectii'e ones of :1V pair of track contacts.

The motor '3. is 0' .ected to the battery 41. by wires it) and ,-;o'9, the wires 3839 being connected to fixed contacts M -37 respectively. These contacts are adapted to be electrically connected by a contact 36 on the armature 36 when the magnet 35 is deenergized. The 1r is provided with a pin 3 3 that comes into engagement with the armature 38 as soon as the valve 32 has about reached its open position, so as to break the motor circuit at the contacts 37 37 and stop the operation of the motor when the valve is fully opened.

contact 44, and

train in block No. 2,

()prruiion: Assume a rain to be in block No. 1." its axles and wheels will result I in short-c-ircuiting the rails of such block I and tie ncrg ize the magnet 3 of the relay i such block. This permits the armature at to rccede and open the circuits between con tacts 5 and 6 and l -4 respectively of the relay R in block No. 1. The circuit being thus opened results in opening the circuit between track contacts 9-8 of block No. 2 as well as the circuitbetween track contacts -9 of the block preceding block No. 1 if there be such a block. Assume now that another train enters block No. 2, while the first train is in block No. 1. As soon as such other train has its brushes SS in engagement with track contacts S -8 of block No. 2 the local train carried circuit will be broken by the knife switch, and inasmuch as the circuit between v the track contacts 88 of... block N o. 2 is broken no current will flow through the 'magarmature 36 to drop and close the local lIlOtQ circuit to open the air valve, and hence stop the train. As soon as the valve 32 has been opened, t-liepin 33 will have engaged the armature 36 and broken the motor circuit to prevent a further operation of the air valve. The train in block No. 2 correspondingly short-circuits the .rails of said block and breaks the circuit at the relay R of block No. 2, thus opening the circuit between contacts'9 9 of block No. l and contacts 8 E in block No. 3, so that as soon as the train in block No. l engages the track contacts 99 of its own block, suchtrain will also be automatically stopped-in a manner similar to the stopping of the andin addition, should-another train enter block No. 3

while block N 0. 2 is occupied, such train.

will be likewise stopped.

he action of the crossing to the action just described. However, assume atrain to be in block No. at and another t-rain on the crossing the circuit will be broken between the crossing contacts 8 8 of relay R in block is very similar block No. 5, i

No. by the train in. block No. 4 and the circuit block N would be broken by the tra n on crossing block No. 5 and the train will be brought to a stop. The presence or a train in block No. 4t or in block No.

5 or block No. 6 serves cult that includes wires and cross line wire 10 which renders contacts.

9'--9 of block C andcontacts 8""S of block A dead so that should train enter blocks A or C, While a train is in block No. 4, crossing block'No. 5 or block No. 6 it will be brought to a stop corre spondingly. Any tain entering block G will stop any other train that might enter block No. t. crossing block N o. 5, block No. (5 or block A, during the time such train is in block C, block No. 5 or block A, thus protecting both lines between contacts 9 -4) of,

from. trains in opposite directions on the respective lines and from cross trains on opposite lines. I

The operation of the switch circuit is substantially the same as that of the straight line track and will be readily-understood by reference to -rig. 3, of the drawings, making a detail description oi such operation, it is thought, unnecessary.

I desire to call attention to the fact that while i have shown and described the track contacts 8 as formed of a single contact mei-nber it may be composed of; several separate members, aarallelly arranged. and electrically connected so as to insure good electric connection l'ietween the train carried contact mal zer and the track contact and I do not desire to limit myself to such specific construction shown.

ill further desire to say that i do not wish it understood that 1 limit myself to any specific details of mechanical construction or arrangement of parts or that 1 limit myself to the exact details of wiring shown in the accompanying drawings further than is specifically brought out in the appended claims.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought the complete construction, operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains.

What 1 claim is: v v

l. in a train controlling system, sectionalized tracks divided into blocks, a normally closed electric circuit including the tracks of one section, a relay interposed in said normally closed circuit, fixed contacts inde {)(iltlttllll oi? the track arranged in pairs adjzlilflflll; to said tracks, and means electrically connecting said track contacts with said rclay to normally electrically connect certain ol? said contacts, and iii cans tor deiinergizing said relay 1" a train enters the block to open the circuit between said nredeterniined fixed contacts combined with a 11in carried normally closed circuit including a pair of train carried contact makers to coiijiicrate with a pair of ixed track contacts, and means whereby a pair oil track contacts, when the rela controlling the ie is energized, may be ln'oughli into series wit said train carried circuit.

2. in train. controlling system, a train ca""ieil stopping mechanism including a normal y closed train carried circuit and a pair of train carried contacts in said circuit, combined with sectionalized tracks divided into blocks, pairs of traclt. contacts for each block independent of ti 3. tracks to coiipcratc jy'ith the train carried contacts at times, and train coi'ilrollcd means coiipcrating with the tracks and the track contacts for electrically connecting and disconnecting certain pairs of track contacts, and means carried by the train for opening the train carried circuit mounted adjacent to the main line'tracks and other pairs of fixed contacts mounted adjacent to the cross line tracks, and means whereby when a train enters'a cross block the circuit between a certain pair of track contacts in each of the blocks nextadjacent the cross block in the same line will be electrically disconnected.

4. In a track circuit for train controlling mechanisms, a main line and a second line crossing there-over, said main line and said second line being divided into blocks with the rails of each block insulated from those of other blocks, a relay bridged across the rails of each block and a source of electric energy also bridged across the rails ot each block,

pairs of fixed contacts mounted adjacent to the main line tracks and other pairs of fixed contacts mounted adjacent to the cross line tracks, and means electrically connecting certain of said relays of the main line track with certain of the main line fixed contacts and certain of the cross line fixed contacts.

In a track circuit for train controlling mechanisniis, a main line and a second line crossing there-over, saidmain line and said second line being the rails of each block insulated from those of the other blocks, a relay bridged across the rails of each block and a source of electric energy also bridged across the rails of each block, pairs of lixed contacts mounted adja cent to the main line tracks and other pairs of fixed cont-acts mounted adjacent to the cross line tracks, means electrically connecting certain. of said relays of the main line track with certain of the main line fixed contacts and certain of the cross line fixed contacts, and means for electrically connecting certain of said relays of the cross line blocks with certain of the tract: contacts oi": the main line blocks.

6. In train controlling sy line having blocks, a cro and having em. a main line crossing said main line in rails divided into insulated blocks, lixeil contacts arranged adjacent to the track of the main line and other fixed contacts arranged adjacent to the tracks of rails divided into insulated divided into blocks with the cross line, and means in certain of the main line blocks for electrically connecting certain of the track contacts of the cross line blocks. a i t. In a train controlling system, a main line having its rails divided into insulated blocks, a cross line crossingsaid main line and having its rails divided into insulated blocks, fixed contacts arranged adjacent to the track of the main line and other fixed contacts arranged adjacent to the tracks of the cross line, and means in certain of the main line blocks for electrically connecting certain of the track contacts of the cross line blocks and vice versa.

8. In a train controlling system, a main line having its rails divided into insulated blocks, a cross line crossing said main line and having its rails divided into insulated blocks, fixed contacts arranged adjacent to the tracks of the main line and other fixed contacts arranged adjacent to the tracks of the cross line, means in certain of the main lineblocks for electrically connecting certain of the track contacts of the cross line blocks, and certain of the fixed contacts of certain of the main line blocks.

9. In a block system for railways, a main line and cross line each having its rails divided into insulated block s ctions, said blot-l; sections including a cross over block section in the main line, and a crossing bloclc section in the cross line insulated from that 01" the main line, pairs of track contacts for each block mounted adjacent to the tracks, means in one block of the main line for elec trically connecting certain pairs of fixed contacts of the main line and certain other pairs of fixed contacts of the cross line, and means whereby when a train enters one of said blocks the means connecting said fixed contacts will be released to electrically disconnect said fixed contacts.

10. In a train controlling mechanism, a main line having its rails divided into insulate l blocks, and a cross line having its rails; divi led into insulated blocks, said main and cross lines each' including a crossing block insulated one from the other, a pair of con tacts for eachblock of the main and cross lines, combined with means for normally electrically connecting said pairs of track contacts, and means in virtue of which when a train enters a block next adjacent the crossover block of one line, the circuit will'loe opened betweenj certain pairs of track con-. tacts in the block next adjacent the cross over block of the cross line, and the circuit will be opened between a certain pair of track contacts of the cross-over block.

11. In a train controlling mechanism, a main line having its rails divided into insulated blocks, and a cross linr having its rails divided into insulated blocks, said main and cross lines each including a crossing block insulated one from the other, a pair of track contacts for each block of the main and cross lines, combined with means for normally electrically connecting said pairs of track contacts, and means in virtue of which when a train enters the cross-over block of one line the circuit will be open between a pair of,

block a train enters such block to open the circuit between pairs of track contacts in the blocks next adjacent to the block in which the train is present, and a train stopping mechanism having .means for coiipcrating with said track contacts, in virtue of: which when the circuit is opened between a pair of track contacts and a train passes thcrcovcr, the train will be stopped.

13. In a? train controlling system, sectionalizcd-traclis divided into blocks, a normally closed electric circuit including the tracks of one section, a relay interposed in said normally closed circuit, fixed contacts arranged adjacent to said tracks, means electrically connecting said track contacts with said rclay-to normally electrically connect certain of said contacts, means for dci nergizing said relay as a train enters the block to open the circuit between said predctcruiincd fixed contacts, and a train stopping mechanism having means for cooperating with said track contacts in virtue of which when the circuit is open between a pair of track contacts and the train passes there-over, the train will be stopped.

14. In a track circuit for train controlling mechanisms, a main line and a second line crossing there-over, said main lines and said second line being divided into blocks with the rails of each block insulated from those of the other blocks, a relay bridged across the rails of each block and a source of electric energy also bridged across the rails of each block, pairs of fixed contacts mounted adjacent to the main line tracks and other pairs of fixed contacts mounted adjacent. to the cross line tracks, means electrically connecting certain of said relays of the main line track with certain of the main line lixed contacts and certain of the cross line fixed contacts, means for electrically connecting certain of said relays of the cross line blocks track contacts at each of the blocks on both with certain of the track contacts of the main line blocks, and a train stopping mech- I the track of the main line and other fixed contacts arranged adjacent to the tracks of the cross line, means in certain of the main ,line blocks for electrically connecting certain of the track contacts of the cross line blocks, and a train stopping mechanism having means for cooperating With said track contacts in virtue of which when the circuit is open between a pair or track contacts and the train passes there-over, the train will be stopped.

16. In a train controlling system, a main line having its rails divided into insulated blocks a cross line crossing said main line and having its rails divided into insulated blocks, fixed contacts arranged adjacent to the track of the main line and other fixed contacts arranged adjacent to the tracks of the cross line, and means in certain of the main line blocks for electrically connecting certain of the track contacts of the cross line blocks and vice versa, and a train stopping mechanism having means for cooperating with said track contacts in virtue of which when the circuit is open between a pair of contacts and the train passes there-over, the train will be stopped.

17. In a train controlling mechanism, a

track circuit comprising rails divided into sections to form blocks, the sections of one rail being opposite those of the other rail to form blocks, a source of electric energy bridged across the rails of each block at one end thereof and a relay bridged across the end 01 each block at the other end thereof to form a closed electric circuit including a source of energy, the track rails of the block and the relays, said relays having armatures provided with a plurality of contacts, a common wire connected. to all of said armature contacts, two pairs of track contacts for each block, the contacts of each pair being directly opposite one another to be brought into operation simultaneously, connect-ions between the track contacts at one side of the track of all of the blocks and said common wire, said relays each including a pair of fixed contacts, connections between a fixed contactof a relay in one block with a track contact in another block and connections be tween the other fixed contact of said relay and a track contact of a third block, combined with a train carried normally closed circuit including a pair of train carried contact makers, one to cooperate with oneot' a pair of track contacts and the other to coopcrate with the other of a pair of track contacts, and means for opening the train carried circuit and simultaneously connecting it with a pair of track contacts to bring electrical connection between the respective pair of track contacts in series with the train carried circuit.

JEAN F. \VEBB, J n.

Witnesses:

J. F. MORRISON, \VALTER KUHNE. 

